Paul Chubinskiy, 18, is graduating No. 6 from Hastings High School in Alief and is headed to Duke University to study English. Chubinskiy's family moved to the United States from the Ukraine when he was in the second grade. less

Paul Chubinskiy, 18, is graduating No. 6 from Hastings High School in Alief and is headed to Duke University to study English. Chubinskiy's family moved to the United States from the Ukraine when he was in the ... more

Amilda Medina, 17, the Willowridge High School valedictorian in her advance placement biology classroom in Houston. Medina is the first person in her family to go on to college. Medina will be attending the University of St. Thomas in the school's pre-medical program. She hopes to be a pediatrician. less

Amilda Medina, 17, the Willowridge High School valedictorian in her advance placement biology classroom in Houston. Medina is the first person in her family to go on to college. Medina will be attending the ... more

Manvel High School twins Martin Pospisil and Jessica Pospisil are graduating in the top 10 of their class. Martin is graduating second in his class, and Jessice is graduating sixith. Martin played football through his junior year until a shoulder injury stopped him, and Jessica is an athletic trainer. less

Manvel High School twins Martin Pospisil and Jessica Pospisil are graduating in the top 10 of their class. Martin is graduating second in his class, and Jessice is graduating sixith. Martin played football ... more

Ermias Emahazion, 17, a Lee High School student, is photographed at the school. Emahazion, born in Ethiopia, lost both of his parents in a car accident at age 5. He spent 10 years living in the slums of Kenya with his uncle, before being sent to the United States with his two older sisters. They begged for amnesty, which was granted. He started at Lee High at 15, and is now graduating No. 3 in his class. He's headed to the University of Texas to study engineering. less

Ermias Emahazion, 17, a Lee High School student, is photographed at the school. Emahazion, born in Ethiopia, lost both of his parents in a car accident at age 5. He spent 10 years living in the slums of Kenya ... more

Tyler Hanna stands on the concrete slab where his bedroom used to be before Hurricane Ike hit the Bolivar Peninsula. Hanna recently starred in the school musical, and is graduating from Ball High School, ranked No. 24 in his class, and headed to the University of Texas. Hanna's family lost everything in Ike and he and his mom have been living in a motorhome on Bolivar Peninsula since then. He also acted in his first play this year, playing Willy Wonka in a musical. less

Tyler Hanna stands on the concrete slab where his bedroom used to be before Hurricane Ike hit the Bolivar Peninsula. Hanna recently starred in the school musical, and is graduating from Ball High School, ... more

Photo: Michael Paulsen, Chronicle

Tyler Hanna stands on the concrete slab where his bedroom used to... Photo-1258566.18440 - Houston Chronicle

Image 7 of 8

Dudley "Duggan" Baker is graduating from Klein High School in the top 10 in his class. He is deaf. He is the captain of the swim team. This year, he swam in the deaf Olympics in Taiwan. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Club, Spanish Honor Society, the Earth Club and more. He plans to major in environmental studies at the University of Texas in the Plan II Honors Program. He wants to become an environmental lawyer. In his words, his swim coach "transformed him from a timid freshman who didn't talk to anyone into a confident team leader." He goes on to say that the confidence his coach "instilled in him has been the determining factor in his academic and athletic success." less

Dudley "Duggan" Baker is graduating from Klein High School in the top 10 in his class. He is deaf. He is the captain of the swim team. This year, he swam in the deaf Olympics in Taiwan. He is a member of the ... more